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Low Back/Psoas Release
The
psoas (pronounced soe-az) is a muscle that
originates at the lumbar spine, travels over the
bowl of the pelvis, and attaches to the inside
of the upper femur. The psoas is a hip flexor,
meaning it helps one bend at the waist. This
muscle is analogous to the tenderloin in an
animal—which gives one a sense of its size.
When someone does a lot of
sitting, bending, or other movement that causes
flexion at the hip (such as cycling), the psoas
often becomes tight and short. When this
happens, it does not release to its full extent
when the person stands upright. Instead, because
of its attachments sites, a tight psoas often
causes the pelvis to tilt forward and creates a
swayback curve in the lower back. The potential
for therapeutic benefits from psoas work is
vast. By addressing the origins of low back pain
rather than its results, clients with chronic
low-back issues often find a more lasting,
consistent relief.
Because the psoas is so
deep, it cannot be accessed from the back.
Instead, the practitioner must work via the
abdomen. Abdominal psoas work is generally
contraindicated for clients who are pregnant or
suffer from digestive, urinary, or reproductive
disorders, but there are stretches that said
individuals may utilize.
Many massage therapists do
not do psoas work, often due to their discomfort
and lack of practice in the area. As a result,
the majority of clients have never experienced
psoas work, or have found it to be a rather
uncomfortable event. As psoas release is one of
my specialties, I am able to offer a
transformational experience with only an
occasional amount of minimal discomfort.
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